English sporting giants bidding to move to foreign league after takeover by legendary former F1 owner

EDDIE JORDAN reportedly hopes to take London Irish into the United Rugby Championship following his takeover of the club. The troubled rugby union side was bought by a consortium led by the former F1 team owner earlier this week. The URC is a multinational league made up of teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa. Any move to leave the English system would have to be approved by the RFU.

The Exiles have reportedly received almost £150million in funding from the RFU since 2016. The report cites RFU sources who claim there is "no precedent for an English club being permitted to leave [for the URC].". Wasps eyed a similar switch to the competitive two years ago, but the move failed to materialise. London Irish went into administration over two years ago due to £30million in unpaid tax bills.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS. The Premiership club was suspended from all rugby activities in June 2023 for failing to pay its players. Following Jordan's takeover, the club said: "The Jordan Associates team will now turn its attention to negotiating a full and sustainable return for London Irish to competitive rugby, hand-in-hand with London Irish’s supporter base.". Jordan's youngest son Kyle is a senior pattern in the consortium.

He added: "Our investors bring not just financial backing but a profound passion for rugby and a commitment to the community.". Founded in 1898, London Irish became professional almost a century later in 1996. They spent almost two decades playing in Reading before returning to the capital in 2021. Round 1. France v Wales | January 31 at 8.15pm | ITV. Scotland v Italy | February 1 at 2.15pm | BBC. Ireland v England | February 1 at 4.45pm | ITV.

Round 2. Italy v Wales | February 8 at 2.15pm | ITV. England v France | February 8 at 4.45pm | ITV. Scotland v Ireland | February 9 at 3pm | BBC. Round 3. Wales v Ireland | February 22 at 2.15pm | BBC. England v Scotland | February 22 at 4.45pm | ITV. Italy v France | February 23 at 3pm | ITV. Round 4. Ireland v France | March 8 at 2.15pm | ITV. Scotland v Wales | March 8 at 4.45pm | BBC. England v Italy | March 9 at 3pm | ITV.

Round 5. Italy v Ireland | March 15 at 2.15pm | ITV. Wales v England | March 15 at 4.45pm | BBC. France v Scotland | March 15 at 8pm | ITV. The club played home games at Brentford's Gtech Stadium before the administrators were called just over two years ago. And Jordan's takeover has given hope the team can return to the pitch in 2026. Jordan - who revealed last year he is battling cancer - told talkSPORT: "It’s a passion. Passion with the team, with the family.